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A pragmatic view of cartridge expenses / many questions

Trying to see what your thoughts are on cartridge expenses? Do you buy cartridges and replace or retip after it’s worn? Cartridges are like tires for cars in some ways. You have to replace the tires after they wear out.

If you own an ultra expensive cartridge, let’s say, over 7k, is that your main spinner? Do you do a factory retip at costs exceeding thousands? Do some of you who own high cost cartridges use them only for special occasions, similar to drinking Dom Perigon for some special event, and use a normal not so exotic cartridge for regular day to day use and perhaps non-audiophile records.
I am sure each of us have our own price threshold and thoughts of high end cartridges. I only said 7k, because that seems to me a fair price point to describe a very expensive cartridge.

My thoughts are that having a few normally priced cartridges around is a good thing, due to the wear and tear, and replacing or retippimg would also be less costly. I do lust after some high end cartridges and if I do obtain one, my philosophy would be as described above. Enjoy for special occasions, and use a less costly for normal day to day listens. Geez, it feels like we are trying to separate our car cruises from a sports car feel to a luxury limo ride feel, in some ways. 
What’s your opinion on expendability of cartridges?
audioquest4life
audioquest4life OP
774 posts
 
@mijostyn, 

Thank you for the update. Will adding the optional SME counterweights mitigate this factor? After all, I thought that was the purpose of SME developing more counterweights to allow heavier cartridges. The V12 can accept heavier cartridges, hmmm. 
I could always move to an SME V12 which would be a nice experiment as well. My turntable has two SME mounts, and a third mount not being used. I have two SME Vs mounted and can add a third tone arm. Yes, those German Transrotors allow for some nice tone arm variation. Getting kicked out a groove has never happened to me, but does not sound good. Thanks. 
mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,570 posts
 
No, you can't just add a larger counter weight. The cartridge's compliance has no relationship to it's weight. You will have to add head shell weights to the arm and/or heavier screws. You will probably need the larger counter weight to handle this. The V12 is my favorite SME but it is still pretty light at 12 gm effective mass. You would have to add head shell weight to it as well just not as much. the best way to find out where you are is by using a Test record with vertical and lateral resonance bands like the Hi Fi News Analog Test LP. You add mass until you get "the shakes" between 8 and 10 Hz. Get it down there and you will note a healthy improvement in bass detail and dynamics. 
Getting kicked out of the groove requires a healthy miss match but I have seen it happen. Yours truly mounted an original Koetsu Rosewood in a Transcriptors Vestigial arm. The arm bounced out of the groove and because of the anti skate kept bouncing backwards right off the rim of the record:))) Experience is always the best teacher. Thus I learned about cartridge/tonearm resonance. Fortunately, the cartridge was not harmed and I got a more suitable arm. This was on an LP 12. 
lewm
13,352 posts
 
Did VDH say what is the internal resistance of your sample? Thx.
dhcod
710 posts
 
Recent bought a degritter and I can attest to its value. Beside just an overall better sounding record, the quieter the phono stage the more you can appreciate the reduced noise floor it creates. 

A Decca cartridge will work well with your SME. Once you hear one, you probably won't need to spend the mega bucks. Nothing gets you closer to the sound of musicians playing music. I haven't  looked back after buying a Super Gold with a Paratrace stylus. And total rebuilds to basically a new cartridge are less than $700. 
audioquest4life OP
774 posts
 
There was no internal impedance listed on the spec sheet. 
Here’s what was listed for loading values: 
Load Impedance: 20-47k
Optional load impedance: 20-200

Its packed up and heading out today. I concluded my experiment. As we all know, a lot of this is about synergy. I just don’t feel it in my system. At least I can say I tried it and know what it sounds like on my system. 
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